Salomon - Malpelo Island
Salomon. Now here’s a site that really gets the blood pumping in Malpelo. We love the sheer unpredictability of it. You’re typically dropping in close to the wall, letting the current carry you along, and hoping for a show. It’s definitely one for the experienced diver, someone comfortable with a bit of drift and keeping an eye on their buddy in the blue. The wall itself is a tapestry of crevice and overhang. We’ve found Freckled morays peeking out, and the Acapulco damselfish are always flitting about. But the real draw? That’s out in the open water. Keep your eyes peeled for those Oceanic Manta Rays gliding past, sometimes just a shadow, other times coming in close enough to make you feel the displacement of water. We’ve seen Blackfin barracuda schooling here, a shimmering wall of muscle, and the Pacific Crevalle Jacks are often on the hunt. Our favourite encounters have been the Lemon Sharks, serene and powerful, cruising just off the reef. It’s a classic Malpelo drift dive, often with a powerful surge near the surface, but the reward is immense.
- Location
- Malpelo Island, Colombia, South America
- Coordinates
- 3.997145, -81.613840
Marine Protected Area: Sanctuaire de faune et de flore de Malpelo
Best Time to Dive in Malpelo Island
The warmest water temperatures in Malpelo Island occur in October, averaging 30.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C
- February: 28.0°C
- March: 28.3°C
- April: 29.0°C
- May: 29.7°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.4°C
- August: 29.4°C
- September: 29.9°C
- October: 30.2°C
- November: 29.4°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Malpelo Island
- Alice-Agnes Rocks (reef)
- Aquamarina
- Aquarius
- Archies Rock (reef)
- Arrecife Edinburgh (reef)
- Arthur Jackson Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Asmalera Rocks (reef)
- Auiapuni Reef (reef)
- Auikera (reef)
- Bajo Bonito (reef)
- Bajo Caribana (reef)
- Bajo del Anda (pinnacle)
- Bajo del Cholo (pinnacle)
- Bajo del Hospital
- Bajo del Junior (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to Salomon
Marine Life in Malpelo Island
Home to 72 recorded species including 68 reef fish, 2 other, 1 hard corals, 1 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Silver mojarra (Eucinostomus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) - Reef Fish
- Kwab (Sparisoma radians) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Wrasse (Halichoeres notospilus) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) - Reef Fish
- Fringed Filefish (Monacanthus ciliatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Puffer (Sphoeroides spengleri) - Reef Fish
- Threeband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Panamic frillfin (Bathygobius ramosus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Salomon
Based on average water temperature of 29.2°C, currents 14 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories